Hanoi (Washington Insider Magazine) January 26, 2026 - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen completed a two-day state visit to Vietnam meeting senior leaders including President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to formalise upgrade of bilateral ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership level. The agreement expands cooperation across trade green transition digital economy and supply chain resilience domains under EVFTA framework implementation. Discussions confirmed €15 billion investment commitments over five years targeting renewable energy semiconductors and critical minerals processing facilities.
Ursula von der Leyen commenced visit January 25 receiving official welcome at Presidential Palace followed by expanded bilateral consultations. Vietnamese President Luong Cuong hosted opening ceremony emphasising mutual strategic interests Indo-Pacific stability economic diversification priorities alignment. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conducted separate session Government Guest House outlining Vietnam's 2026-2030 socioeconomic development plan EU technical financial support integration requirements.
Joint communiqué announced partnership elevation highest tier alongside China United States Japan South Korea status reflecting 35 years diplomatic relations maturation since 1990 establishment. EVFTA trade volume surpassed €62 billion 2025 representing 18 percent annual growth since 2020 enforcement tariff elimination progress achievement.
Ursula von der leyen hanoi itinerary official engagements
European Commission President arrived Noi Bai International Airport greeted by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc European Delegation head. Presidential Palace guard of honour national anthems 21-gun salute protocol execution marked formal opening sequence standard diplomatic courtesies observation.
Von der Leyen itinerary incorporated Samsung Electronics Vietnam facility tour Bac Ninh province €220 billion investment showcase 200,000 direct jobs creation manufacturing localisation demonstrations. Vietnam-EU Business Forum Central Hanoi convened 800 executives €4.2 billion new project pledges across eleven sectors immediate implementation timelines confirmation.
Von der Leyen addressed forum outlining Global Gateway €300 billion initiative Vietnam allocation emphasising sustainable infrastructure digital connectivity critical raw materials supply diversification mandates execution.
Comprehensive strategic partnership framework elevation details
EU-Vietnam relations upgrade from Comprehensive Partnership 2019 status to highest tier involves annual summits biannual ministerial dialogues joint working groups eleven priority domains coordination. Framework encompasses political security economic development domains multilateral coordination platforms participation expansion requirements.
EVFTA implementation achieved 99 percent tariff elimination seven-year schedule completion ahead projections customs procedures digitalisation rules of origin verification platforms deployment processing efficiency 45 percent improvement recorded. Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement operationalised direct flights expansion Frankfurt Munich Paris Ho Chi Minh City routes passenger traffic 250,000 annually achievement.
Digital Trade Agreement initialling scheduled Q2 2026 targeting cross-border data flows e-commerce platforms cybersecurity standards harmonisation commitments codification.
Social media reports highlighted partnership upgrade significance. Gandalv noted strategic implications. Gandalv said in X post,
"EU set to elevate Vietnam ties to highest partnership level The European Union is preparing to raise its relationship with Vietnam to its highest category of partnership, signalling a major step up in political and economic cooperation. The move would place Vietnam among the EU’s closest strategic partners and reflect Hanoi’s growing importance in Europe’s plans for trade, investment, supply-chain resilience, and regional stability in Southeast Asia.If confirmed, the upgrade is expected to deepen collaboration on areas such as green transition, critical industries, infrastructure, and security dialogue, while also expanding coordination on global issues. It would also underscore the EU’s broader push to diversify partnerships in Asia amid shifting geopolitics and intensifying competition for influence in the region."
🇪🇺 🇻🇳 EU set to elevate Vietnam ties to highest partnership level
— Gandalv (@Microinteracti1) January 25, 2026
The European Union is preparing to raise its relationship with Vietnam to its highest category of partnership, signalling a major step up in political and economic cooperation. The move would place Vietnam among…
Bilateral trade investment statistics evfta performance metrics
2025 bilateral trade volume recorded €62.9 billion Vietnamese exports €47.1 billion textiles electronics footwear categories dominance maintained. EU imports machinery pharmaceuticals chemicals €15.8 billion surplus generation Vietnam trade balance positive territory establishment.
European direct investments Vietnam accumulated €28.5 billion 1,800 projects 450,000 employment generation manufacturing electronics semiconductors logistics sectors concentration. Leading investors Germany Netherlands France Denmark recorded €4.1 billion FDI inflows 2025 renewable energy industrial parks real estate developments diversification.
EVFTA compliance verification platforms processed 1.2 million certificates origin 94 percent acceptance rate customs clearance times reduced 42 percent digital integration achievements.
Just energy transition partnership funding disbursements progress
EU Just Energy Transition Partnership JETP committed €1.5 billion grant loan blend Vietnam coal phase-out net-zero 2050 trajectory support mobilisation. Phong Dien 2 solar complex Khanh Hoa €180 million European Investment Bank financing 250MW capacity addition grid stability contributions.
Offshore wind pipeline 3.2GW projects €2.8 billion blended financing European Development Bank guarantees private equity participation facilitation. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism CBAM readiness programmes trained 5,000 enterprises steel aluminium cement sectors compliance capacity establishment.
Global Gateway €1.2 billion digital connectivity allocation 5G spectrum auctions rural broadband satellite internet Mekong Delta regions deployment.
Semiconductor critical minerals supply chain cooperation initiatives
Vietnam Semiconductor Strategy 2025-2030 €20 billion investment target EU design fabrication packaging ecosystem partnerships formation. Intel Vietnam expanded test ring operations Ho Chi Minh City €1.8 billion investment 12,000 jobs creation advanced packaging capabilities deployment.
Critical minerals processing facilities Thai Nguyen province rare earths gallium tungsten refining €900 million EU technical assistance adoption. Battery manufacturing joint ventures cathode anode production EU standards certification pathways establishment supply chain resilience enhancements.
Digital economy partnership cybersecurity frameworks data localisation requirements harmonisation GDPR alignment national regulations amendments.
President luong cuong presidential palace discussions outcomes
President Luong Cuong von der Leyen meeting addressed strategic autonomy supply chain diversification ASEAN centrality Indo-Pacific frameworks coordination. Luong confirmed Vietnam bamboo diplomacy external partners engagement multilateralism commitment reinforcement requirements.
Von der Leyen outlined EU Indo-Pacific Strategy Vietnam gateway positioning Southeast Asia €1 trillion market access facilitation. Joint endorsement Mekong-Lancang cooperation water security climate adaptation agricultural resilience projects portfolio expansion.
Multilateral coordination UN Security Council reform WTO appellate body restoration positions synchronisation confirmed annual dialogues institutionalisation.
Prime minister pham minh chinh government guest house session
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised EVFTA phase two services investment liberalisation labour mobility chapters negotiations acceleration. Chinh positioned Vietnam EU bridge ASEAN €600 billion market tariff preference utilisation optimisation opportunities leveraging.
Discussions incorporated North-South high-speed rail €58 billion project European financing technical standards adoption consortium bids submission. €1.8 billion SME green technology adoption blended finance guarantees export credit agency backstops provision confirmation.
Vocational training German dual education system adaptations 50 polytechnics nationwide implementation 100,000 apprenticeships annual quotas establishment.
Business forum investment pledges sector allocations details
Siemens €950 million smart grid energy management systems nationwide rollout 2026-2030 deployment schedule confirmation. VinFast electric vehicle battery gigafactory Thai Nguyen €2.2 billion EU market certifications accelerated EVFTA tariff elimination utilisation.
Total forum pledges aggregated €6.3 billion renewable energy €2.1 billion semiconductors €1.4 billion logistics infrastructure immediate groundbreakings scheduled. Fifteen MoUs executed R&D centres technology transfer joint ventures formation roadmaps publication.
EuroCham Vietnam 1,700 member enterprises annual survey 92 percent investment expansion intentions EVFTA benefits realisation confirmation.
Regional analysts noted trade disruption contexts. 9DASHLINE referenced reporting. 9DASHLINE said in X post,
"EU set to elevate ties with Vietnam amid trade disruptions, source says https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/01/25/eu-ties-vietnam-trade/"
EU set to elevate ties with Vietnam amid trade disruptions, source says https://t.co/IIZqNQoiGx
— 9DASHLINE (@9DashLine) January 25, 2026
Regional security maritime domain awareness cooperation expansion
Von der Leyen reaffirmed EU UNCLOS adherence South China Sea freedom navigation code of conduct negotiations support positions. Vietnam EU ASEAN Regional Forum coordination maritime domain awareness capacity building patrol vessels delivery schedules confirmation.
European Peace Facility €250 million allocation Vietnam UN peacekeeping Africa missions troop contributions expansion facilitation. Defence industry dialogue maritime surveillance equipment supply chains diversification local maintenance hubs establishment.
Indo-Pacific maritime security exercises observer status invitations annual scheduling coordination NATO partnerships integration.
Cultural educational people-to-people connectivity programmes
Erasmus+ expansion 8,000 Vietnamese students EU universities 2026-2030 quotas allocation confirmation. Vietnamese Studies Chairs established ten EU universities language cultural diplomacy promotion mandates execution.
Tourism recovery campaigns targeted 3 million EU visitors 2026 pre-pandemic levels restoration direct charter flights resumption. Culinary festivals Berlin Paris Rome editions €60 million promotion budgets allocation annual programming.
Women in STEM scholarships 2,000 recipients EU technical universities hosting gender parity initiatives integration.
Multilateral platforms coordination climate wto reforms
COP31 joint positions NDC updates 2026 submissions synchronisation confirmation Vietnam EU coordination hosting bids evaluation. WTO Trade Policy Review Vietnam 2026 EU technical assistance provision appellate body reform positions alignment.
G20 development finance reforms voting shares adjustment proposals coordination confirmation. UN Human Rights Council UPR mutual recommendations acceptance cycles institutionalisation annual dialogues scheduling.